Clean.

While I’m traveling, I asked some friends to answer a question: What’s the story related to Jesus that is most compelling for you? Today’s post is from Cheryl Smith.

It’s nearly noon and Peter’s hungry. The people preparing lunch don’t have everything ready, so Peter heads to the rooftop to pray. While he’s on the roof, he falls into some sort of a trance and sees a vision.

In the vision, heaven opens up and a big sheet tied at each of the four corners lowers from heaven to earth. The sheet is filled with all sorts of animals, beasts, creeping things, and birds.

Peter hears a voice (presumably Jesus, because in my Bible the words are printed in red ink) telling him to get up, kill and eat. But Peter is a devout Jew who only eats food on the approved list.

He responds, “Not so, Lord (the title he used for Jesus)! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

Jesus speaks a second time saying, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.”

This happens three times and then the sheet is taken back up into heaven. Peter ponders what the vision could possibly mean when the Spirit tells him he has company, to get up, go downstairs, and go with them.

Then the Spirit adds, “doubting nothing, for I have sent them.”

As it turned out, Peter was asked to go on a two-day journey to another town – with Gentiles, to see even more Gentiles.

This would be damaging to his reputation. He would be prohibited from participating in the good and familiar religious practices of his upbringing. His old friends probably wouldn’t want to associate with him.